Patents by Inventor James E. Allard

James E. Allard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11933285
    Abstract: A damped compressor used in mobile appliances. The appliances may comprise a compressor which is disposed within a housing and is in fluid communication with a refrigerant system. Within the housing there is an improved damping or stabilizer system which limits movement of electric or mechanical portions, or both, of the compressor within the housing. At startup and shutdown, when oscillations of the components within the housing are generally maximized, the components are limited from contacting the housing internal structure so as to inhibit damage to the compressor and reduce the noise associated with such contact. The components are also damped from movement associated with the mobile application of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: James E. Allard, Mark L. Smith, Peng Wang
  • Publication number: 20210239105
    Abstract: A damped compressor used in mobile appliances. The appliances may comprise a compressor which is disposed within a housing and is in fluid communication with a refrigerant system. Within the housing there is an improved damping or stabilizer system which limits movement of electric or mechanical portions, or both, of the compressor within the housing. At startup and shutdown, when oscillations of the components within the housing are generally maximized, the components are limited from contacting the housing internal structure so as to inhibit damage to the compressor and reduce the noise associated with such contact. The components are also damped from movement associated with the mobile application of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: James E. Allard, Mark L. Smith, Kingda Wang
  • Patent number: 11027595
    Abstract: Present embodiments provide a roof fan assembly with numerous improvements. The roof fan assembly includes a cover which allows for a fan shroud to be opened. The structure includes a base clamp which connects to the roof of an RV. The base clamp includes a fan and motor which push or pull air out from the RV or into the RV. The base clamp includes a worm gear assembly which includes a worm gear structure to open and close the shroud. The arm may include a sleeve which moves relative to the arm and connects to the shroud at the opposite end. The base clamp includes mounts for connecting the base clamp to the roof as well as allowing for connection of the cover to the fan assembly as a whole. Still further, the structure provides integrated hinges in the base clamp to allow connection of the shroud to the base clamp for pivotal movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: Mark L. Smith, Aaron L. Harris, Hari R P Sunkara, James E. Allard
  • Publication number: 20180105020
    Abstract: Present embodiments provide a roof fan assembly with numerous improvements. The roof fan assembly includes a cover which allows for a fan shroud to be opened. The structure includes a base clamp which connects to the roof of an RV. The base clamp includes a fan and motor which push or pull air out from the RV or into the RV. The base clamp includes a worm gear assembly which includes a worm gear structure to open and close the shroud. The arm may include a sleeve which moves relative to the arm and connects to the shroud at the opposite end. The base clamp includes mounts for connecting the base clamp to the roof as well as allowing for connection of the cover to the fan assembly as a whole. Still further, the structure provides integrated hinges in the base clamp to allow connection of the shroud to the base clamp for pivotal movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Mark L. Smith, Aaron L. Harris, Hari RP Sunkara, James E. Allard
  • Patent number: 9679060
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for customizing a user's experience with an application such as a search engine application. The user's experience is customized based on inferring a mood and/or interests of the user at least in part from an analysis of the user's posts on one or more social media sites. The search engine application is configured to include a user-following engine which follows a user's activities on social media websites. By tracking a user's posts and other activity on social media websites, and possibly those of his or her friends, the user-following engine is able to draw inferences about a user, including for example the user's emotional state, current trending interests, future plans, likes/dislikes and aspirations. The user-following engine may then customize the user's search experience based on these drawn inferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas C. Hebenthal, Cesare J. Saretto, Kathleen P. Mulcahy, James E. Allard
  • Patent number: 9557072
    Abstract: A vent cover for covering an opening in a building structure to vent its interior is provided. The vent cover includes a hollow cover member with an open bottom for positioning over and covering the opening in the building and a front end with an opening. A grill is removably secured in the opening in the front end of the cover member. The grill has a plurality of partitions. Each of the partitions is defined by intersecting members, which have a tapered cross section for accelerating the flow of air through the grill. The grill also has a splash guard and an overhang structure optimal for preventing rain, snow and water from entering the grill and the opening in the building structure. The cover member may be aerodynamically shaped for use atop vehicles such as trailers and RVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: Roch J Tolinski, Lorin A Milks, James E Allard
  • Patent number: 9171454
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate rich interaction with and/or management of environmental components included in an environment. The architecture can exist in whole or in part in a housing that can resemble a wand or similar object. The architecture can utilize one or more sensor from a collection of sensors to determine an orientation or gesture in connection with the wand, and can further issue an instruction to update a state of an environmental component based upon the orientation. In addition, the architecture can include an advisor component to provide contextual and/or comprehensive guidance in an intuitive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew David Wilson, James E. Allard, Michael H. Cohen, Steven Drucker, Yu-Ting Kuo
  • Patent number: 9047593
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to various architectures that can, inter alia, facilitate creation of a synch file as well as facilitate interpretation of the synch file. Both creation and interpretation can be accomplished in conjunction with an original media asset. The synch file can include transformation commands that can operate on a presentation of the asset rather than upon the asset itself. Accordingly, what is actually perceived by a content consumer during a presentation of the asset need not be exactly what the asset creator fixed in a tangible medium. Rather, the content consumer can observe a derivative media presentation based upon interpretation of the synch file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: David Sebastien Alles, James E. Allard, Nicholas Robert Baker, Adam Tipton Berns, Steven Drucker, James C. Finger, Todd Eric Holmdahl, David Hendler Sloo, Curtis G. Wong, Dawson Yee
  • Patent number: 8805817
    Abstract: A client device may receive a request from a remote control device to capture a still image from content in a broadcast received at the client device. The client device may capture the still image from the content in the broadcast responsive to the request. The still image is transmitted for receipt and display at the remote control device. Image data is received from the remote control device that includes a portion of the still image displayed at the remote control device. The portion of the still image is selected by a user via a user interface output at the remote control device and includes an object to be identified using image recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Allard
  • Publication number: 20130109294
    Abstract: A vent cover for covering an opening in a building structure to vent its interior is provided. The vent cover includes a hollow cover member with an open bottom for positioning over and covering the opening in the building and a front end with an opening. A grill is removably secured in the opening in the front end of the cover member. The grill has a plurality of partitions. Each of the partitions is defined by intersecting members, which have a tapered cross section for accelerating the flow of air through the grill. The grill also has a splash guard and an overhang structure optimal for preventing rain, snow and water from entering the grill and the opening in the building structure. The cover member may be aerodynamically shaped for use atop vehicles such as trailers and RVs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Atwood Mobile Products LLC
    Inventors: Roch J. Tolinski, Lorin A. Milks, James E. Allard
  • Publication number: 20120311641
    Abstract: A client device may receive a request from a remote control device to capture a still image from content in a broadcast received at the client device. The client device may capture the still image from the content in the broadcast responsive to the request. The still image is transmitted for receipt and display at the remote control device. Image data is received from the remote control device that includes a portion of the still image displayed at the remote control device. The portion of the still image is selected by a user via a user interface output at the remote control device and includes an object to be identified using image recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Allard
  • Patent number: 8301618
    Abstract: Content and metadata associated with the content may be provided to a number of users. The content may be displayed on a display device while the metadata may be transmitted to a remote device corresponding to a receiving user. The user may further request desired information or metadata pertaining to the content and the requested information or metadata may be transmitted to the user's remote device. Different users may request different information on the same or different objects being displayed or presented on a display device. Each requesting user may receive requested information on the same or different objects via corresponding remote devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Allard
  • Publication number: 20120259788
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to various architectures that can, inter alia, facilitate creation of a synch file as well as facilitate interpretation of the synch file. Both creation and interpretation can be accomplished in conjunction with an original media asset. The synch file can include transformation commands that can operate on a presentation of the asset rather than upon the asset itself. Accordingly, what is actually perceived by a content consumer during a presentation of the asset need not be exactly what the asset creator fixed in a tangible medium. Rather, the content consumer can observe a derivative media presentation based upon interpretation of the synch file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Sebastien Alles, James E. Allard, Nicholas Robert Baker, Adam Tipton Berns, Steven Drucker, James C. Finger, Todd Eric Holmdahl, David Hendler Sloo, Curtis G. Wong, Dawson Yee
  • Patent number: 8275880
    Abstract: A media content programming, delivery, and consumption model is provided by which consumers can receive programming that is personalized to their tastes and interests and discover new media content that they will likely enjoy, without having to put in a lot of effort or needing to be technically adept. The received media content programming can then be played on a PC or portable media player. Consumers can access the media content programming from a cloud-based service with the same ease as tuning to a radio station, and then may simply enjoy the programming without needing to take any additional steps. However, unlike traditional linear programming, the programming here is curated so that the delivered content is highly relevant to the consumer. Navigation within a programmed sequence is enabled by skipping ahead or going back in a playlist, and consumers can learn more about particular content by interacting with rich metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Allard, Anton O. Andrews, Julio Estrada
  • Patent number: 8190986
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to various architectures that can, inter alia, facilitate creation of a synch file as well as facilitate interpretation of the synch file. Both creation and interpretation can be accomplished in conjunction with an original media asset. The synch file can include transformation commands that can operate on a presentation of the asset rather than upon the asset itself. Accordingly, what is actually perceived by a content consumer during a presentation of the asset need not be exactly what the asset creator fixed in a tangible medium. Rather, the content consumer can observe a derivative media presentation based upon interpretation of the synch file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David Sebastien Alles, James E. Allard, Nicholas Robert Baker, Adam Tipton Berns, Steven Drucker, James C. Finger, Todd Eric Holmdahl, David Hendler Sloo, Curtis G. Wong, Dawson Yee
  • Patent number: 8185137
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to a first architecture that can create an intensity map based upon intensity scores, and to a second architecture that can provide intensity scores and can request and receive the intensity map. Intensity scores can relate to an approval or a level of satisfaction of a current location of a user and can be conveniently provided, in some cases with a single keystroke (e.g., 0-9 from a conventional cell phone keypad) by, say, mobile device users. Numerous intensity scores can be received and aggregated to produce an intensity map of a given area or region. Portions of the intensity map can be provided to requesting devices, potentially filtered based upon a variety of criteria. As a result, the intensity map can provide in substantially real-time a visual indication of locations or entities that might be interesting to explore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adam T. Berns, James E. Allard, Nicholas C. Baker, Todd E. Holmdahl, Oliver R. Roup, David H. Sloo, Curtis G. Wong, Dawson Yee
  • Publication number: 20120095976
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for customizing a user's experience with an application such as a search engine application. The user's experience is customized based on inferring a mood and/or interests of the user at least in part from an analysis of the user's posts on one or more social media sites. The search engine application is configured to include a user-following engine which follows a user's activities on social media websites. By tracking a user's posts and other activity on social media websites, and possibly those of his or her friends, the user-following engine is able to draw inferences about a user, including for example the user's emotional state, current trending interests, future plans, likes/dislikes and aspirations. The user-following engine may then customize the user's search experience based on these drawn inferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas C. Hebenthal, Cesare J. Saretto, Kathleen P. Mulcahy, James E. Allard
  • Patent number: 8155714
    Abstract: A portable media player is configured with a flip form factor in which a flip cover is hingedly fixed to a main body portion of the player. The flip cover rotates about the hinge between open positions that expose the display screen and user controls of the player and a closed position that covers that screen and controls to keep them clean and protected against damage when the player is being used or transported. The flip cover includes a set of secondary user controls on its exterior surface so that the user may operate the player when the flip cover is in its closed position. The hinge is configured to provide sufficient frictional torque over its angular range of motion to enable the flip cover to operate as a built-in display stand to angle the display screen for comfortable viewing. The flip cover further provides additional surface area for personalization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Allard
  • Patent number: 8027518
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can obtain biometric data from a user as the user interacts with a device. Based upon the obtained biometric data, the architecture can determine an identity of the user and automatically apply settings associated with that particular user to the device. The settings can relate to a physical configuration of the device (or aspects, features, and/or peripherals of the device), as well as to a data set employed by the device (or components of the device). As such, a user of the device can benefit from enhanced efficiency, utility, and/or convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Baker, James M. Alkove, James E. Allard, David Sebastien Alles, Steven Drucker, James C. Finger, Todd E. Holmdahl, Oliver R. Roup, David H. Sloo, Curtis G. Wong
  • Patent number: D672450
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Atwood Mobile Products, LLC
    Inventors: Lorin A. Milks, James E. Allard, Roch J. Tolinski